'5 



(3) Two-spotted Swimming Crab, Ovalipes trimaculatus (de 



Haan). 



This crab is not brought to market very often; not, how- 

 ever, because it is not common, but because only the largest 

 specimens of the kind are of a sufficient size to be considered 

 marketable, and as no special fishery for the species exists ^ 

 large ones are not often caught. It is quite common along 

 our coast in shallow water, on clean sandy beaches ; into 

 which it buries itself. It may be at once distinguished by 

 the somewhat rounded outline of the carapace, and the 

 possession of two irregular red spots, one on either side near 

 the posterior edge of the shell, the rest of the carapace being 

 yellowish. 



(4) Blood-spotted Swimming Crab, Lit pa sanguinolenta 

 (Herbst). 



This species is closely allied to the common Blue Swimming 

 Crab, to which it is very similar in shape, though in coloration 

 it is quite distinct, being at once easily recognised by the 

 three remarkable blood-like spots surrounded by blueish 

 rings, which are to be found on the back shell or carapace. 

 Like most of the members of this group of crabs, it is very 

 widely distributed, but it is not very common here, nor does 

 it attain to the large proportions of the Blue Swimming 

 Crab. 



(5) Cross-bearing Swimming Crab, Charyhdis cruciatus (Herbst). 



This crab will be at once picked out from others (which 

 are themselves beautiful) by the glorious and delicate colors. 

 On the carapace, and running from front to back, are several 

 milk-white or cream-colored bars, the central ones of which 

 are thought by some to bear a striking resemblance to a 

 cross. I must confess that I have never been able to see 

 the resemblance. The whole shell of this lovely animal is 

 so finely smoothed and so delicately colored that it rather 

 suggests the finest porcelain than a crab's shell. The species 

 is not at all common in our waters. 



